The second fruit of the Spirit is joy and it comes from knowing about the first fruit of God's unending love for His children. Knowing that God is our provider, our healer and our deliverer brings about a great sense of joy deep within our spirit, welling up into thankfulness for all that He does for us on a daily basis.

The joy of the Lord is our strength and our shield as the scripture states because God goes before us to protect us and war for us, He has redeemed us from damnation, restored us into His family and made us into new creations in Christ! Within God's presence is the fullness of joy that comes when we seek Him and worship Him in Spirit and truth. True worship involves entering into His holy presence, into a realm of the Spirit in which we are lifted out of our fleshly, earthly realm into the very portals of light where the Most High dwells!

Today there is much tribulation and sadly, not much joy within the people of God, who ought to be shoutingabout all the wonderful things our God has done for us. We should be overflowing with joy because of who we are and because of Whom we belong!

You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11